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Post by Timo Nieminen on Apr 24, 2017 21:34:41 GMT
So the term "walking" means something other than "natural" footwork, all footwork is natural, it means to alternate the feet. This is not so. There is plenty of footwork that isn't "walking" and isn't "natural". Sliding the feet isn't "walking". Jumping isn't "walking". Standing right foot forward, and moving by stepping forward with the right, catching up with the left, and repeating that isn't "walking". Just watch, e.g., olympic fencing, boxing, WTF TKD, and more, and you'll see plenty of footwork that isn't natural, that isn't walking. Musashi gives two instructions that are worth looking at further ("move both feet, not just one", and "don't do fancy stepping" shouldn't need further comment). The instruction to move as you walk: This is what I would call "natural" stepping. He explicitly says not to just step as you would walk down the street, but large/small, slow/fast (and presumably more, such as direction) according to the situation. And a more technical instruction: which, in the way of technical details, would benefit from a real-life demonstration. (One could watch Niten Ichi-ryu and/or Enmei-ryu footwork in action, for footwork claiming direct transmission, but there is the question of whether it has been modified for indoor training over the centuries.) At least part of the meaning of this instruction is "don't slide or drag your foot, push off forcefully as you step". Which is excellent advice for outdoor footwork. Swapping the sword from a katana to a European longsword or a two-handed dao doesn't change this. Even swapping it for a one-handed sword doesn't change this - it's still good advice. Cannot pick and choose from go rin no sho was my point. Why not? If an instruction, in isolation from the rest of the book, is applicable and useful, why can't one pick and choose it? For example, Liechtenauer has no details on how to hold a longsword. Musashi describes in useful technical detail how to hold a sword. Musashi's method works very well for European longsword. Why can't it be used? If you pick and choose, you can't claim to be practicing Musashi's swordsmanship. But you can't learn Musashi's swordsmanship from Five Rings even if you whole-heartedly follow the entire book - it doesn't have enough technical detail. It's a supplement to instruction by a teacher, not a replacement for instruction by a teacher. Being able to use Musashi's grip with a European longsword doesn't mean that it's the method used by Medieval European swordsmen. So what? If it works, it can be used. Swordsmanship, per se, is a functional art - if it works, it works. Since some of Musashi's instructions/principles/methods are already explicitly included in other sword arts, and more of them can be, and have been, applied in other sword arts, it is clearly possible to pick and choose from Five Rings. People have done it successfully. More generally, there is plenty in many martial arts that is readily transferable to other MA. Practice MA1, and import techniques from MA2. If it works, it works. You can't claim to be actually practicing MA2 - you're just using some techniques from MA2. You can't claim to be practicing "pure" MA1 any more either. If you're not a style purist or doing it for historical re-creation, so what? Musashi's swordsmanship isn't some super-special martial art that is somehow magically resistant to having techniques imported from it into other MA.
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Post by Kiyoshi on Apr 25, 2017 7:34:01 GMT
If you pick and choose, you can't claim to be practicing Musashi's swordsmanship. But you can't learn Musashi's swordsmanship from Five Rings even if you whole-heartedly follow the entire book - it doesn't have enough technical detail. It's a supplement to instruction by a teacher, not a replacement for instruction by a teacher. Being able to use Musashi's grip with a European longsword doesn't mean that it's the method used by Medieval European swordsmen. So what? If it works, it can be used. Swordsmanship, per se, is a functional art - if it works, it works. Since some of Musashi's instructions/principles/methods are already explicitly included in other sword arts, and more of them can be, and have been, applied in other sword arts, it is clearly possible to pick and choose from Five Rings. People have done it successfully. More generally, there is plenty in many martial arts that is readily transferable to other MA. Practice MA1, and import techniques from MA2. If it works, it works. You can't claim to be actually practicing MA2 - you're just using some techniques from MA2. You can't claim to be practicing "pure" MA1 any more either. If you're not a style purist or doing it for historical re-creation, so what? Musashi's swordsmanship isn't some super-special martial art that is somehow magically resistant to having techniques imported from it into other MA. A little off the original topic, but this is a point I've tried to make but is often lost on some people. It is why I don't hold a claim to MJER with katana or any of the individual empty hand martial arts I've studied. I may have started with MA1, but I've cross trained and incorporated. MA1 with bits and pieces from MA2, MA3,... is no longer MA1 but that doesn't mean it is any less correct. It also doesn't mean it is more. In addition, your success with it doesn't entail others, nor does their failure entail yours. As you said, martial arts are generally functional, use what works. If you want to follow a tradition, that's fine. You have every right to say "that's not niten" but you don't have the right to say "you can't use x from niten."
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Ifrit
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More edgy than a double edge sword
Posts: 3,284
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Post by Ifrit on Apr 25, 2017 19:36:35 GMT
So the term "walking" means something other than "natural" footwork, all footwork is natural, it means to alternate the feet. This is not so. There is plenty of footwork that isn't "walking" and isn't "natural". Sliding the feet isn't "walking". Jumping isn't "walking". Standing right foot forward, and moving by stepping forward with the right, catching up with the left, and repeating that isn't "walking". Just watch, e.g., olympic fencing, boxing, WTF TKD, and more, and you'll see plenty of footwork that isn't natural, that isn't walking. Musashi gives two instructions that are worth looking at further ("move both feet, not just one", and "don't do fancy stepping" shouldn't need further comment). The instruction to move as you walk: This is what I would call "natural" stepping. He explicitly says not to just step as you would walk down the street, but large/small, slow/fast (and presumably more, such as direction) according to the situation. And a more technical instruction: which, in the way of technical details, would benefit from a real-life demonstration. (One could watch Niten Ichi-ryu and/or Enmei-ryu footwork in action, for footwork claiming direct transmission, but there is the question of whether it has been modified for indoor training over the centuries.) At least part of the meaning of this instruction is "don't slide or drag your foot, push off forcefully as you step". Which is excellent advice for outdoor footwork. Swapping the sword from a katana to a European longsword or a two-handed dao doesn't change this. Even swapping it for a one-handed sword doesn't change this - it's still good advice. Cannot pick and choose from go rin no sho was my point. Why not? If an instruction, in isolation from the rest of the book, is applicable and useful, why can't one pick and choose it? For example, Liechtenauer has no details on how to hold a longsword. Musashi describes in useful technical detail how to hold a sword. Musashi's method works very well for European longsword. Why can't it be used? If you pick and choose, you can't claim to be practicing Musashi's swordsmanship. But you can't learn Musashi's swordsmanship from Five Rings even if you whole-heartedly follow the entire book - it doesn't have enough technical detail. It's a supplement to instruction by a teacher, not a replacement for instruction by a teacher. Being able to use Musashi's grip with a European longsword doesn't mean that it's the method used by Medieval European swordsmen. So what? If it works, it can be used. Swordsmanship, per se, is a functional art - if it works, it works. Since some of Musashi's instructions/principles/methods are already explicitly included in other sword arts, and more of them can be, and have been, applied in other sword arts, it is clearly possible to pick and choose from Five Rings. People have done it successfully. More generally, there is plenty in many martial arts that is readily transferable to other MA. Practice MA1, and import techniques from MA2. If it works, it works. You can't claim to be actually practicing MA2 - you're just using some techniques from MA2. You can't claim to be practicing "pure" MA1 any more either. If you're not a style purist or doing it for historical re-creation, so what? Musashi's swordsmanship isn't some super-special martial art that is somehow magically resistant to having techniques imported from it into other MA. Care to explain more about the footwork? I'm intrigued
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Post by Derzis on Apr 25, 2017 20:00:35 GMT
This is what I would call "natural" stepping. He explicitly says not to just step as you would walk down the street, but large/small, slow/fast (and presumably more, such as direction) according to the situation. He is talking about not raising the knees too much no matter what the maai is. That's the "in the manner of walking" sense there. Knees too high in combination with hakama and rush = landing on your nose. You talk about "natural" stepping in first phrase just to contradict the notion in second. And a more technical instruction:To move from one place to another, you slightly raise your toes and push off your foot from the heel, forcefully.which, in the way of technical details, would benefit from a real-life demonstration. (One could watch Niten Ichi-ryu and/or Enmei-ryu footwork in action, for footwork claiming direct transmission, but there is the question of whether it has been modified for indoor training over the centuries.) You will not quite benefit in real life unless you use Japanese footwear and you use their clothes. You raise your toes before stepping, your enemy can see what you want to do - if you have european footwear. With Japanese footwear he is pointing what to do to not lose your slippers while dueling. PS: I can't read the above without this passage: "In my strategy, the footwork does not change. I always walk as I usually do in the street. You must never lose control of your feet."
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Apr 25, 2017 20:37:48 GMT
You will not quite benefit in real life unless you use Japanese footwear and you use their clothes. You raise your toes before stepping, your enemy can see what you want to do - if you have european footwear. With Japanese footwear he is pointing what to do to not lose your slippers while dueling.
- You won't lose waraji if you don't raise your toes. They're tied on.
- European footwear won't make a difference in telegraphing. European pants might.
- "Push off your foot from the heel, forcefully" is good advice for a wide variety of footwear, Japanese, European, and naked feet.
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Post by Derzis on Apr 25, 2017 20:50:02 GMT
You will not quite benefit in real life unless you use Japanese footwear and you use their clothes. You raise your toes before stepping, your enemy can see what you want to do - if you have european footwear. With Japanese footwear he is pointing what to do to not lose your slippers while dueling.
- You won't lose waraji if you don't raise your toes. They're tied on.
- European footwear won't make a difference in telegraphing. European pants might.
- "Push off your foot from the heel, forcefully" is good advice for a wide variety of footwear, Japanese, European, and naked feet.
And if you use wooden clogs? Not with "raise your toes", especially if you would know that the stepping in Japanese MA comes from hips. He is talking about controlling the feet first - they don't do whatever they want without you.
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Ifrit
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More edgy than a double edge sword
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Post by Ifrit on Apr 25, 2017 20:51:45 GMT
What does it mean to push forcefully from the heel?
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Apr 25, 2017 21:48:23 GMT
Care to explain more about the footwork? I'm intrigued Firstly, many martial arts (armed or otherwise) have doctrine along the lines of "always keep your left foot forwards" or "always keep your right foot forwards". To maintain such a stance while moving needs special stepping, which usually consists of leading foot moves in the direction of motion, and trailing foot catches up. This is very common in unarmed striking MA (e.g., boxing), where a big part of the reason is to cover the body with the lead arm, and keep the targets on the centerline more protected. This stance is often at about 45 degrees. You also see a very side-on stance, in MA dominated by front-leg kicking. In armed MA using a single one-handed weapon (where the off hand mainly participates as a potential target), a very side-on stance also appears - this maximises the reach of the weapon, and keeps the off-hand out of harms way. With those stances, you don't walk left-foot-goes-in-front, right-foot-goes-in-front, etc. When you move, you take shorter, quicker steps. At least, you want the steps to be quicker (because you have to take more of them to move the same distance, because they're shorter steps). If you can step in a sliding fashion, keeping the foot low, you can make the steps quick. Which brings us to the second point, indoor vs outdoor. It isn't really indoor vs outdoor, but smooth vs rough. If "outdoor" is concrete footpath, or flat short lawn, it's relatively smooth (not slick like a polished wooden floor, but still even). But if you go off-road, you have more varied conditions under foot. Sliding style stepping becomes a tripping risk. Sliding stepping while moving backwards is worst, but even moving forwards is not without risk. For outdoor stepping, you want to lift the feet more. Step over the roughness in the ground, not be tripped by it. This is where Musashi's "push forcefully from the heel" is excellent advice - it's a good way to step like this, quickly and efficiently. There are different ways to step. (1) You can move your hips and pull the foot. This tends to be slow, and becomes very slow when you have to lift the foot rather than slide. You won't step quickly and surprise your opponent stepping like this. You are also vulnerable to being attacked mid-step. (2) You can push off with the big toe, forcefully. This lets you step quickly. This is very good for quick stepping where you keep your feet low. Good for indoor footwork. (3) You can push off from the heel. Better than big-toe-pushing when you need to lift your feet. Good for outdoor stepping. (4) You can follow such a heel push with further push from the ball of the foot. (5) You can stand on the balls of your feet (heels off the ground). In this case you can't push off from the heel. You can just lift your toes and pull your foot as in (1), but you can also speed the step up by pushing off with the ball of your foot. Pushing off with your big toe pushes the foot forwards; pushing off the ball of the foot will push the foot up. This is useful for shifting your weight off that foot onto the other one, allowing you to pull your foot with less preliminary shifting of your weight onto your other foot. The things that need to be considered are: (a) Is the floor/ground smooth and level? (b) Do you want to keep the same foot forwards all the time? (c) Do you need to consider the extra weight of armour? (d) Are you wearing footwear that changes the way you can step? (This doesn't cover all possible types of footwork. You'll see more: bouncing, skipping, etc.) What does it mean to push forcefully from the heel? Don't just shift your weight onto the other foot and drag the stepping foot along with your hips. Push off from that stepping foot - you'll move your body weight faster and with less telegraphing, and the step will be faster. If you do this main push with your heel grounded, you're pushing from the heel. If you do this main push with your heel raised, you're pushing off from the ball of your foot. So part of this instruction is "keep your heels on the ground". Stand right foot forwards, with your weight equally distributed on your feet, heels on the floor. Now, not too quickly, shift your weight onto your front (right) foot. Typically, your back (left) heel will lift, and only the ball of your back foot will be on the ground. Now, you could give a little push off the ball of your back foot, and step. Or shift your weight further, and lift your back (left) foot from your hips and let gravity swing it through to in front. But from the initial position, you can just push off the heel, and step without as much preliminary weight shifting. Especially if you are using longer stances, as can be useful (a) outdoors, and (b) with weapons, that push off the heel is very good.
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Ifrit
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More edgy than a double edge sword
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Post by Ifrit on Apr 25, 2017 22:37:23 GMT
Thanks man. That makes total sense. I have always done sliding in my footwork so I can see how this would be an improvement in a rough terrain
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Post by Derzis on Apr 26, 2017 13:26:32 GMT
No, it doesn't make sense, unless you have no experience at all. Japanese have the strange idea (for a neophyte) that the hips are the ones that make the link between lower body and upper body and they pay a lot of attention on the usage of hips because for them, all the body parts must work as one when engaged in a fight. In short, they advocate the use of hips as the corner stone of your balance and equilibrium in any situation, at any speed. "You can move your hips and pull the foot. This tends to be slow, and becomes very slow when you have to lift the foot " it is as stupid as it can be. We are not robots with a predetermined sequence: if you move the hip, the hip will pull the leg and the leg will do the step. The hip by himself will not raise your feet from the ground - the maximum it can do is to make your foot slide a couple of centimeters if you really force hard. All those types of pushing enumerated above ARE taught to be done in conjunction with the hip movement to achieve something in Japanese martial arts. They are not separate things. You can jump, you can slide, you can move super fast or just walk in the park and the hip involvement is there if you are talking about Japanese martial arts. He is not writing for nothing : "it is necessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance". If you know nothing, this sentence means nothing. Or whatever you can dream about.
A Sensei will not write what he already taught you, but will write you a reminder for X situation. That's how I see GoRinNoSho.
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Post by Cosmoline on Apr 26, 2017 16:13:18 GMT
Any videos showing this?
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Post by Derzis on Apr 26, 2017 21:28:56 GMT
No shortcuts, an youtube can't and will never give you what you want to see if you don't know what to look for. Years in dojo will solve the problem. And for the sake of it, since Musashi is easy and very understandable as some pretend, what gives you these:
Adopt a stance with the head erect, neither hanging down, nor looking up, nor twisted. Your forehead and the space between your eyes should not be wrinkled. Do not roll your eyes nor allow them to blink, but slightly narrow them. With your features composed, keep the line of your nose straight with a feeling of slightly flaring your nostrils. Hold the line of the rear of the neck straight: instill vigor into your hairline, and in the same way from the shoulders down through your entire body. Lower both shoulders and, without the buttocks jutting out, put strength into your legs from the knees to the tips of your toes. Brace your abdomen so that you do not bend at the hips. Wedge your companion sword in your belt against your abdomen, so that your belt is not slack this is called wedging in". In all forms of strategy, it is necessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance. You must research this well.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Apr 26, 2017 21:48:48 GMT
No, it doesn't make sense, unless you have no experience at all. That's a very strange attitude. "You understand it, but I don't. Therefore, I don't understand it because I have experience, and you understand it because you have no experience." No, your "experience" isn't why you fail to understand it. "You can move your hips and pull the foot. This tends to be slow, and becomes very slow when you have to lift the foot " it is as stupid as it can be. We are not robots with a predetermined sequence: if you move the hip, the hip will pull the leg and the leg will do the step. The hip by himself will not raise your feet from the ground - the maximum it can do is to make your foot slide a couple of centimeters if you really force hard. You say "impossible", but it's easy to do. Congratulations! You have just demonstrated that you don't understand what was written. You are allowed to ask for clarification. You are allowed to follow Musashi's frequent advice: "You must study this well." As a first step towards understanding, either (a) Stand right foot forwards, with your weight equally distributed on your feet, heels on the floor. Now, not too quickly, shift your weight onto your front (right) foot. Typically, your back (left) heel will lift, and only the ball of your back foot will be on the ground. Now, you could give a little push off the ball of your back foot, and step. Or shift your weight further, and lift your back (left) foot from your hips and let gravity swing it through to in front. But from the initial position, you can just push off the heel, and step without as much preliminary weight shifting. or (b) Say what you don't understand about the instruction in (a). Perhaps it is possible to explain it to you in some other way. If you want to learn, don't just bleat "stupid", "you only understand it because you have no experience at all" etc. Take the time out to try to understand, try the suggested exercise, and ask for clarification. If you just want to bleat "stupid" because it makes you feel good, get a life. He is not writing for nothing : "it is necessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance". If you know nothing, this sentence means nothing. Or whatever you can dream about. A strange example to pick, since Musashi explains this part in detail: Your "mystery sentence" is meant to be understood with that detailed description in mind. A briefer, less-detailed description would make the final instruction more dependent on prior knowledge, but Musashi gives one of the most detailed technical descriptions in the whole book to make the section work stand-alone. (Compare Musashi's prescribed posture with the usual Chinese/Japanese standing meditation posture.) Nothing to do with footwork, and it makes sense in the context. What was your point?
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Post by Cosmoline on Apr 26, 2017 21:54:26 GMT
?? You described a way of movement with swordplay. I'm just asking for a video showing people moving the way you describe in a sword fight. I'm not trying to learn it, just see a demonstration or example of the kind of movement you describe. Are you saying there are no recordings of anyone moving the way you describe?
You have offered an interpretation. I'm asking for an example on video. That's pretty standard stuff.
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Ifrit
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More edgy than a double edge sword
Posts: 3,284
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Post by Ifrit on Apr 26, 2017 22:40:20 GMT
No, it doesn't make sense, unless you have no experience at all. Japanese have the strange idea (for a neophyte) that the hips are the ones that make the link between lower body and upper body and they pay a lot of attention on the usage of hips because for them, all the body parts must work as one when engaged in a fight. In short, they advocate the use of hips as the corner stone of your balance and equilibrium in any situation, at any speed. "You can move your hips and pull the foot. This tends to be slow, and becomes very slow when you have to lift the foot " it is as stupid as it can be. We are not robots with a predetermined sequence: if you move the hip, the hip will pull the leg and the leg will do the step. The hip by himself will not raise your feet from the ground - the maximum it can do is to make your foot slide a couple of centimeters if you really force hard. All those types of pushing enumerated above ARE taught to be done in conjunction with the hip movement to achieve something in Japanese martial arts. They are not separate things. You can jump, you can slide, you can move super fast or just walk in the park and the hip involvement is there if you are talking about Japanese martial arts. He is not writing for nothing : "it is necessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance". If you know nothing, this sentence means nothing. Or whatever you can dream about.
A Sensei will not write what he already taught you, but will write you a reminder for X situation. That's how I see GoRinNoSho. I have experience. Maybe not with your specific school. But I have experience. There are other methods of martial arts in existence. I make do with what I can. But thanks for the further instructions. Even if I don't learn his exact method, the sentence I read still expands what I already knew to something a bit bigger.
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Post by Kiyoshi on Apr 26, 2017 23:01:21 GMT
Even if I don't learn his exact method, the sentence I read still expands what I already knew to something a bit bigger. This is something I find can be done with a lot of mechanics from different martial arts. The fundamental reasons why something is done in an art can apply to others, even if the application isn't carbon copy of an original. You may not use his specific stepping style but you may use his concept to help your footwork on uneven terrain. You may not use his specific postures, but you may understand why it is done and achieve a similar, if not the same, effect befitting the weapon you wield. For this reason, I believe Musashi's work is worth reading regardless of style. His insight onto some things is very valuable.
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Ifrit
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More edgy than a double edge sword
Posts: 3,284
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Post by Ifrit on Apr 26, 2017 23:27:18 GMT
Even if I don't learn his exact method, the sentence I read still expands what I already knew to something a bit bigger. This is something I find can be done with a lot of mechanics from different martial arts. The fundamental reasons why something is done in an art can apply to others, even if the application isn't carbon copy of an original. You may not use his specific stepping style but you may use his concept to help your footwork on uneven terrain. You may not use his specific postures, but you may understand why it is done and achieve a similar, if not the same, effect befitting the weapon you wield. For this reason, I believe Musashi's work is worth reading regardless of style. His insight onto some things is very valuable. Exactly what I was thinking. Great wording
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2017 0:03:25 GMT
Musashi wouldn't have bothered to write down obvious stuff. He outright lists many different types of footwork. He has issues with the other kinds and likes his method, but that's nothing new and you could say that about any decent teacher.
I like to go back to things like "You can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size" whenever I read harping about reach and weapon length. I don't have to devote myself to the Ichi school to find that sentiment admirable and inspirational.
He's an interesting contradiction, where the only thing that matters is winning, taking victory and yet there are still ways he finds objectionable.
He wants you to win. He doesn't want you to crow-hop. If you crow-hop and win, would he be happy or mad?
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Post by Kiyoshi on Apr 27, 2017 1:35:46 GMT
He's an interesting contradiction, where the only thing that matters is winning, taking victory and yet there are still ways he finds objectionable. He wants you to win. He doesn't want you to crow-hop. If you crow-hop and win, would he be happy or mad? I'm not quite sure that would present a contradiction. I was under the impression that Musashi said what he did because he believed it to be the best possible chance to win. Using a crow-hop would be, by his beliefs, sub-optimal. As a result, you may have won, but you could have won better, as in a less risky way. Musashi seems to me, to be a man of efficiency and playing things in a most optimal way given the current situation. I think that if, for one reason or another, a crow-hop was more optimal to win, he would not be mad, but in any other situation, he would think crow-hopping to be poor display of judgment, win or loss. I believe this is of the similar philosophy of when he compares cutting and slashing in this quote: "Even if you slash strongly, and even if the enemy dies instantly, it is slashing." In context, it is displaying intent and showing that after you become skillful, there is no difference as a slash will always be decisive, making it a cut. However, on a fundamental level, he is stating that intent is a property of the concept he is displaying. If your intent is to win, you will do so decisively, in the best way. Things he actively objects to are things he says are rarely, possibly never, the most efficient way, and therefore is a slash when you should be cutting, regardless of whether the enemy dies. Exactly what I was thinking. Great wording Thanks, I am normally sub-par with my words. lol
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Post by Derzis on Apr 27, 2017 2:41:52 GMT
No, it doesn't make sense, unless you have no experience at all. That's a very strange attitude. "You understand it, but I don't. Therefore, I don't understand it because I have experience, and you understand it because you have no experience." No, your "experience" isn't why you fail to understand it. "You can move your hips and pull the foot. This tends to be slow, and becomes very slow when you have to lift the foot " it is as stupid as it can be. We are not robots with a predetermined sequence: if you move the hip, the hip will pull the leg and the leg will do the step. The hip by himself will not raise your feet from the ground - the maximum it can do is to make your foot slide a couple of centimeters if you really force hard. You say "impossible", but it's easy to do. Congratulations! You have just demonstrated that you don't understand what was written. You are allowed to ask for clarification. You are allowed to follow Musashi's frequent advice: "You must study this well." As a first step towards understanding, either (a) Stand right foot forwards, with your weight equally distributed on your feet, heels on the floor. Now, not too quickly, shift your weight onto your front (right) foot. Typically, your back (left) heel will lift, and only the ball of your back foot will be on the ground. Now, you could give a little push off the ball of your back foot, and step. Or shift your weight further, and lift your back (left) foot from your hips and let gravity swing it through to in front. But from the initial position, you can just push off the heel, and step without as much preliminary weight shifting. or (b) Say what you don't understand about the instruction in (a). Perhaps it is possible to explain it to you in some other way. If you want to learn, don't just bleat "stupid", "you only understand it because you have no experience at all" etc. Take the time out to try to understand, try the suggested exercise, and ask for clarification. If you just want to bleat "stupid" because it makes you feel good, get a life. He is not writing for nothing : "it is necessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance". If you know nothing, this sentence means nothing. Or whatever you can dream about. A strange example to pick, since Musashi explains this part in detail: Your "mystery sentence" is meant to be understood with that detailed description in mind. A briefer, less-detailed description would make the final instruction more dependent on prior knowledge, but Musashi gives one of the most detailed technical descriptions in the whole book to make the section work stand-alone. (Compare Musashi's prescribed posture with the usual Chinese/Japanese standing meditation posture.) Nothing to do with footwork, and it makes sense in the context. What was your point? My comment stands on regarding how you explained hip movement and how tragic will be to use it - you lose time and you got hammered by the opponent, right? Go outside and move hip first and tell me you will step without pushing in any way. Go on your knees and try to lift your leg with that movement, hip first. You will not! Hip slightly forward will make you to stand more on your heels and from that little adjustment you will transit easier to any "special stance" or whatever you like to call them because you are pushing without effort on your heels and without being unbalanced (centre of gravity is between your legs no matter the distance between them) in any direction you want and with any speed you want. The bonus from moving with hips slightly forward as opposed to leaning forward is also the fact that you are already in a "fighting" stance even if you are just walking in a park. If you don't understand what was the point, is not my problem.
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